Spring group



oct. 2o, 1953 J E, FLESCH 2,656,179

SPRING GROUP Filed April 21, 1950 3 ing generally parallel to walls 24, 24. t will be noted from a consideration of Figure 3 that the upper end of member or web 5S extends between the lower ends of the shanks 44 of the pair of locking members 38, 38 and has its surfaces 48, 48 tapering upwardly. The shank 44 of each locking member merges into a generally horizontal toe 52, the toe extending through transversely or horizontally alignable vertically elongated slots 54 and 56 in adjacent Walls 24 and 28 of the top and bottom followers. It will be seen that in locking position each toe engages on its top side as at 58 the related wall 28 at the upper end of the slot 56 therein.

The shank 44 of each locking member extends diagonally upwardly transversely of walls 24, 24 of the top follower through an opening 6l! dened between generally horizontal ledges 62, 62 formed on the interior sides of walls 24, 24 at the upper end of the central opening 48 of the top follower. The ledges 62 are formed at their ends integral with walls 26, 26. The opening 68 communicates at its lower end with opening 48 and at its upper end opens into a cavity 64 which is formed centrally through the top plate 2. It will be seen that each locking member 44 abuts at its lateral edge from which its toe extends as at 66 a generally vertical edge of the adjacent ledge 62. The upper end of each locking member 44 is provided with a generally horizontal lug 68 affording a support on its bottom side as at 18 for the associated locking member by seating on the top side of the other ledge 62.

It will be noted that in locking position as shown in Figure 3 the downward force exerted against the toe 52 of each locking member causes the related shank 44 to engage face 48 as at 48 on the side remote from the related toe 2 and to engage the adjacent ledge B2 as at E at its opposite side and to engage the lug 68 as at 'ID with the other ledge 62. Preferably the top ends of the locking members are ground at flush with the top side of the top plate 2, whereby when the top plate 2 is seated against its associated truck Vmember such as a bolster, the keys 38, 38

will be maintained in tight engagement with the l top follower and thus maintained in position and prevented from rattling.

To disassemble `the package spring group, as shown, the package is compressed with the top plate down. The keys will drop out and the package may be expanded and the remaining parts will readily disassemble. To assemble, the parts of the package are assembled as described in the Clasen patent. The package is compressed. Each key 38 is .inserted into the top follower through cavity B4, opening 68 and opening 49 and entered with the lower end of the shank abutting against the fulcrum 58 to guide it in a path moving the toe 52 through its related slots 54 and 56, The package spring group may then be expanded whereupon it will be locked as shown.

It Will be noted that the bending moment on the keys is confined to the toes 52, 52 and that an ingenious arrangement is afforded to counterbalance the forces against web 58 by the opposing action of the keys, thereby providing a practical structure which fits into the limited space and which will have long life in service.

To reduce initial vertical height, a block of non-ferrous material (not shown) may be inserted at 58.

I claim: Y

1. A package spring group comprising top and bottom plates, top and bottom telescoping fol- 4 lowers formed integral with respective plates, said top and bottom followers comprising spaced side walls arranged in parallel adjacent relationship with horizontally alignable vertically elongated slots therein, springs between said plates urging them apart, and means for limiting separatory movement of said plates, said means comprising a bottom wall on said top follower integral with said side walls, an abutment on the top side of said bottom wall between said side walls of the top follower, ledges adjacent the top end of said top follower, keys extending through said top plate between said ledges, each key being seated on one side against said abutment and extending through the slots in the adjacent side walls of the top and bottom followers for abutment at its opposite side with the associated wall of the bottom follower at the upper end of the slot therein, each key having a face formed as a continuation of the last-mentioned side of the key in abutment with a generally vertical face of one of said ledges, each key having a lug extending over the other ledge and seated thereon, said lugs being disposed wholly within a recess in said top plate.

2. A spring group comprising top and bottom plates, springs compressed therebetween, top and bottom telescoping followers connected to respective plates, friction shoes at opposite sides of said top follower in wedge engagement therewith and in frictional engagement with the bottom follower, spring means compressed between the shoes and top plate, and means for interlocking said followers comprising a fulcrum on said top follower between said shoes, a pair of keys supported at their upper ends from portions of said top follower, one of said keys seating against one side of the fulcrum and the other key seating against the opposite side thereof, and each key comprising a toe extending through a vertically elongated slot in a wall of said bottom follower thereadj acent.

3. A spring group comprising top and bottom plates, at least one spring therebetween, top and bottom telescopingfollowers connected to respective plates, friction means at opposite sides of the top follower comprising shoes in wedge engagement therewith and in frictional engagement with the bottom follower, said top follower comprising a fulcrum at its lower end between the shoes, and means for limiting separatory movement of said followers comprising a pair of keys between the shoes arranged side by side at their upper ends and diverging downwardly and extending at opposite sides of said fulcrum and seated thereagainst, each key having a generally horizontally extending portion projecting through a vertically elongated slot in a wall of said bottom follower, and means on the upper ends of said keys and top follower supporting said keys.

4. A spring group comprising top and bottom plates and springs compressed therebetween, top and bottom telescoping followers connected to respective plates, a pair of keys within said top follower, an abutment member in said top follower extending between said keys and in engagement therewith, each key projecting into a vertically elongated slot in a wall of said bottom follower. each key having a lug at its upper end recessed within said top plate and seated on a portion of said top follower, each key engaging an opposed portion of said top follower along a substantially vertical face.

5. A spring group comprising top and bottom plates and springs therebetween, top and bottom telescoping followers connected to respective plates, friction means disposed without said top follower in wedge engagement therewith and in frictional engagement with the bottom follower, and means for limiting separatory movement of said plates and followers comprising a pair of keys between the shoes supported for movement with the top plate and top follower and arranged side by side at their upper ends and substantially in alignment at their lower ends, said keys having oppositely extending portions at their lower ends extending into vertically elongated slots in said bottom follower, and abutment means on said top follower extending between the lower ends of said keys and seating the same, said keys extending transversely of the shoes.

6. In a springing devi-ce, top and bottom telescoping followers, resilient means urging said follower apart, and means for limiting separatory movement of said followers comprising a key within the top follower and having a shank with oppositely extending lug and toe at its upper and lower ends, a ledge on said top follower beneath said lug supporting the same, said shank and top follower abutting each other along generally vertical faces at a side of said shank opposite said lug, an abutment in said top follower seating said shank on a side thereof from which said lug projects, said toe extending generally horizontally through a lvertically elongated slot in a wall of said bottom follower and abuttable at its top side with a downwardly facing surface of said wall at the upper end of said slot to limit separatory movement of said followers. f

7. In a springing device, telescoping inner and outer followers, resilient means acting between the followers urging them apart and means for limiting separation of said followers comprising a pair of keys within the inner follower, each key having a portion at one side seated on a surface on said inner follower facing toward the outer end thereof, each key having a portion at the opposite side thereof extending into a slot in the outer follower, said key bearing at one point on said one side against said inner follower and bearing at another point at said opposite side against said follower, said secondmentioned point being located closer to said outer end of said inner follower than said Erst-mentioned point, the outer ends of said followers affording seats for associated supporting and supported members, said keys having surfaces coplanar with the seat on the inner follower.

8. In a springing device, telescoping inner and outer followers, spring means operatively associated with the followers urging them apart, and means for interlocking said followers, said means comprising a pair of substantially J-shaped lock members extending longitudinally into said inner follower, one end of each member being supported by said inner follower and the other end of each member extending into an opening in said outer follower elongated lengthwise of said followers, abutment means on said inner follower seated against said member at a convexly curved portion thereof, and a surface on said inner follower seating said member at a side opposite that at which said portion seats and disposed closer to the outer end of said inner follower.

9. A spring group -comprising spaced spring plates, spring means urging said plates apart and a substantially J-shaped key carried by one of the plates, the head of said J being buttressed at spaced points at opposite sides thereof against said one plate and the toe of said J being engaged with the other plate to limit movement of said plates apart from each other.

10. A spring group comprising top and bottom spring plates, spring means urging said plates apart, a cavity in the top surface of said top plate, a key having a lug received in said cavity in engagement with an upwardly facing surface of said top plate at one side of said key, said key being engaged at the opposite side thereof with said top plate at a point below the level of said surface, and means on the key engaged with the bottom plate for limiting movement of said plates apart from each other.

l1. In a spring group, top and bottom mem.- bers, resilient means compressed therebetween, and means for interlocking said members in assembled relationship with each other and said spring means comprising .a pair of locking elements, each comprising a leg bearing at one side intermediate its ends against one surface of said top member and at its opposite side adjacent one end against an opposed surface of said top member, each element comprising another leg extending from the other end of the one leg into a slot of the bottom member elongated in the direction of compression of said resilient means.

12. A spring group comprising spaced spring plates, spring means urging said plates apart, a key having one end thereof anchored to one of the plates, and a toe on the other end of the key extending angularly therefrom and engaged with the other plate to limit movement of said plates apart from each other under the action of said springs.

13. A spring group comprising spaced plates, spring means compressed between said plates, a cavity in the surface of one plate, a key having a lug in said 4cavity seated against said one plate, and means on said one plate engaging said key and operative to fulcrum said key into position to engage said other plate, thereby limiting separatory movement between said plates.

14. A spring group `comprising top and bottom plates, springs compressed therebetween, and a key having upper and lower ends, one of said ends being removably interlocked with one of the plates and the other of said ends being engaged with the other plate for limiting movement of said plates apart from each other, and means engaging said key operative to fulcrum said one end into position to be removably interlocked with said one plate.

15. A spring group comprising spaced spring plates, spring means urging said plates apart from each other, a pair of keys removably interlocked with one of the plates, toes on said keys engageable `with the other plate for limiting movement of said plates apart from each other, and means on said one plate for spreading said keys to engage said toes with said other plate.

JOHN E. FLESCH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,913,076 Hall June 6, 1933 2,116,189 Clark May 3, 1938 2,483,172 Bachman Sept. 27, 1949 2,483,181 Clasen Sept. 27, 1949 2,511,173 Olander June 13, 1950 

